Let’s not forget…

… That Allen Iverson did do a pretty job while playing for the Nuggets. Amid the Chauncey-mania, some people have made the misconception that Billups’ success means that Iverson’s tenure was a failure – which isn’t the case. It’s just that they ran the offenses differently than one another, and while the Nuggets liked the way things were going with Iverson (50 wins last season), they’re quite excited about the possibilities with Chauncey, a pure point guard.

George Karl liked – and still likes — Allen Iverson. They had a good relationship. Karl liked the way he practiced and loved Iverson’s 82-game-a-season tenacity. In a whirlwind Western Conference last season, Denver won 50 games with Iverson, the first time in two decades that happened for the Nuggets.

Now, we’re just seeing a new-look Nuggets offense. As Karl said this week, Billups provides intangibles as a veteran guard, a calmness, if you will. Billups is careful with the basketball and does a good job of intertwining and trusting his teammates. And the Nuggets are 6-1 with him in uniform.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.